TFW you're absolutely correct about how good they would look in these specific fits on screen together and can’t stop grinning smugly in a not at all subtle “take that” to their inferior canon love interests.
Peter Outerbridge popped up unexpectedly in something I was watching and he said "sorry" like an American and I was so shocked I had to stop and rewind to hear the next few lines of dialogue. Don't you mean sore-y?? What happened to your voice????
Spoilers: Set in an AU for season three. Ari survived “The Life We’ve Chosen”.
Summary: Nikita, Ari, and a date that escalates in both meaning and intent quickly.
Author's note: Have a sweet and simple piece for the best ship ever (I don't make the rules, they rule me).
On AO3
Feeling Alive All Over Again
“Do you have any…fours?” Nikita Mears did her best to hide a knowing smirk behind the cards she held up in front of her lovely face.
Irritation surfaced in the clear blue ocean that was Ari Tasarov’s eyes. “How do you do that?” he grumbled, passing two over to her before picking replacements up from the shuffled deck that lay between them.
“You should be glad that I didn’t recommend poker, otherwise I’d be bleeding you dry right now.”
“It’s a good thing we’re not betting with actual money then,” the handsome former Gogol operative stretched and reached to grab a strawberry out of the basket that was by his companion’s side.
It was a beautiful day to be out in nature. The sun shone brightly, so dappled light filtered through the canopy of leaves above the couple, who were lounging casually on a picnic blanket close to the lakeshore.
The excursion had been Nikita’s suggestion, since the past few weeks had been spent mostly within Division’s headquarters to allow Ari to acclimate now that he was a formal part of her team.
Technically speaking, it was also their first official date. After everything that had occurred in South Ossetia – including nearly losing him – the beautiful assassin had finally decided to throw caution to the wind and asked him out properly.
She raked her gaze approvingly over her partner as he took a bite out of the fruit. While there was nothing particularly seductive about the action, it managed to cause a small pulse of warmth right below her stomach regardless.
“All right,” he finished the snack and turned his attention back to the cards, completely unaware of the effect he had over her. “Do you have any sevens?”
“Go fish.”
“Dammit!”
She giggled. “Maybe we should do something else?”
“Please. I’m open to any suggestions,” he set the hand down, relief emerging on his striking, angular features.
Her heart fluttered, and she cast a glance over her shoulder at the water that beckoned tantalizingly in the afternoon sun. “We could always take a swim.”
He blinked incredulously, clearly not expecting the idea. “A swim? I didn’t bring a suit.”
“Neither did I,” she shrugged, nonchalant. “Don’t tell me you’ve never gone skinny dipping before.”
“Who hasn’t? Still…” his eyes darted briefly over her slim, athletic form, currently encased in a feminine, peach colored shirtdress. “It’s rather bold for a first date activity.”
“True, but we aren’t exactly a conventional couple, now, are we?” Nikita rose gracefully and extended her hand out to him.
“No, I suppose we aren’t.” There was only a slight hesitation before Ari clasped his fingers around hers so she could haul him up.
“Besides: part of why I chose this location is because it offers us privacy,” she admitted, guiding him towards the edge of the water.
“I assumed as much given that we haven’t been interrupted at all today,” he caught her gaze right as they drew to a halt and then turned fully towards her. “Was that by design as well?”
“You could say that, yes,” she grinned, draping her arms over his broad shoulders before tipping her head back a fraction in order to stare deeply into his cobalt eyes. “You don’t seem to mind though.”
“You’re right as usual.” She was treated to a genuine smile right as he brought a hand up to caress at her cheek. “If I’m honest – I’ve longed to be alone with you in this way since we originally met.”
Her breath caught when he traced at the curve of her jaw with his thumb, sparks immediately shooting up her spine at the contact. His skin was smooth and warm, his touch inviting her to move closer, the space between them diminishing inch by inch.
As if sensing her wish, he leaned in, his lips grazing ever-so-lightly across her own to test the proverbial waters.
She curled into the kiss, which was chaste yet very clear with intent, and then gripped at his bicep to initiate another.
Ari snaked his arms around Nikita’s waist, sweeping her flush against his taller form as the embrace deepened and took on new meaning.
It felt beyond right to become lost in the man who cradled her so tenderly and punctuated his attentions with more provocative nips and teases the longer their kiss wore on.
Her heart catapulted when he weaved his fingers into the dark brown waves of her hair, his tongue sliding over the shape of her mouth to memorize it before seeking entry that she willingly granted.
Eventually, Nikita parted from Ari for air, though she made no move to let him go and instead let her gaze wander over him.
For once: he was dressed in something more casual than the tailored suits that she knew he preferred. He currently wore a crimson-colored button-down shirt, which was undone liberally at the throat and clung in all the right places to his slender frame. The sleeves were rolled up over his forearms, and it was tucked into the dark jeans that completed the look.
Her eyes tracked immediately to the dusting of dark, downy hair that peeked through the opening in his top. He was so different from most of the men that made up Division’s staff, yet by no means less attractive. If anything: she found his refined, elegant features incredibly alluring, and what she could perceive of his build appeared perfectly toned beneath the fabric.
Tentatively, she fiddled with a shirt button before popping it open, bringing her gaze back to his to ascertain if it was okay to proceed.
His response was to gather her into another kiss and begin easing her out of her dress.
Elated, she returned the affection and focused on freeing him from the fabric’s confines.
They took their time, peeling away layer by layer until there was nothing left but bare skin.
She bridged the tiny gap that remained between them, her eyes roaming appreciatively to take in the sculpted planes of muscle that were revealed before daring to touch him.
She was cautious at first, uncertain of how reactive he would be to her ministrations, trailing her fingers through the hair on his chest and then locking her gaze with his to query silently before venturing further down.
He stole a fervent kiss and retaliated in kind, exploring her with a skill that made a surge of molten heat gather directly at her core.
Nikita shrieked in surprise when Ari abruptly hoisted her up and then carried her out into the lake. “Now who’s being bold?”
“I’d say we’re roughly even,” his lips drifted across the slim column of her throat, his hands wandering avidly over her naked skin while he devoted himself to the moment they were sharing.
She inhaled sharply, her head lolling back as clever fingers skimmed over the curve of her hip beneath the water. “Maybe, but you aren’t exactly playing fair here.”
“Seduction is something I never take lightly,” he chuckled before nibbling at a sweet spot right behind her ear.
She cursed quietly and held on, her nails creating half-moon shapes on his back when they embraced ardently and gave over entirely to their desire.
They alternated between making love and playing around in the water till Ari eventually coaxed Nikita back to the picnic blanket so they could rest and dry off.
She curled into his arms, pillowed her head in the crook between his shoulder and neck, then tangled their legs together before nuzzling at his throat tiredly.
There was much to be said for such simple moments of intimacy, where they were wrapped up in each other, still nude and entwined, yet basking comfortably instead of being carried away by the lust that had erupted earlier.
“This was fun,” she murmured, designing a nonsensical pattern over his damp skin before raining firefly kisses slowly across his clavicle.
“If that’s your way of suggesting that we should do this kind of thing more often, I’m all in. However,” he swiftly twisted and reclined her under him, “I would prefer having an actual bed next time.”
She laughed brightly and nodded. “I can agree to that.”
“Good,” he smiled, nudging her nose with his lovingly. “I don’t mind an occasional adventure, but generally I’m more traditional about these things.”
“I figured,” she whispered, drawing him into a tender embrace, her nails deliberately catching in the hair clinging to his chest when he pinned her against the blanket.
She hiked a leg over his hip as they settled, pulling back to commit the image of him to her memory. The sun had recently dipped past the horizon, which cast a romantic, red-orange glow in the sky and bathed them both in its light, which only added to the sensual image that was created.
Whether it was the droplets of moisture sticking to his skin or the fact that his usually neat appearance was so disheveled by her own doing; she was certain that he had never looked sexier, but what appealed to her the most was how he looked at her like someone to be cherished.
He was arguably the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on, and best of all: completely and utterly hers.
Talented hands now well-versed with the curves and dips of her form began to stroke absentmindedly at the phoenix tattoo inked on her thigh.
She noticed a far-off look surfacing in the vibrant blue she adored and tilted her head curiously. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” he shook his head adamantly, his lips curving into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Nothing’s wrong, I was just thinking.”
“About?” she prodded.
He sighed, shifting onto his side and looking at her seriously. “This is the first time in several months where I’ve actually been happy. I’ve been so caught up in proving myself to you and the team that I didn’t really consider what I actually wanted once I could finally move forward.”
She turned so they were face-to-face, casually flipping some errant strands of hair away from his gaze and caressing along the angle of his cheekbone. “I might have sensed that you needed a break.”
“I did, more than anything, but today also led me to making an important decision.”
“Which is?”
“That whatever my future holds: you’re in it. I love you Nikita.”
Her pulse hummed at the declaration, and before another word could be said, she lunged, toppling them back onto the grass. “I love you too.”
Ari’s delight was clear when he drew Nikita into a passionate kiss, which effectively communicated how excited he was to begin the next chapter of their lives.
